Private groups show work relative value units boost

In the past 5 years, independent, multispecialty medical groups reported a slight increase in total relative value units (RVUs) per patient (0.09%) and a nearly 13% increase in work RVUs per patient, according to the Medical Group Management Association's Cost Survey for Multispecialty Practices: 2010 Report Based on 2009 Data.

Nonindependent multispecialty groups-those owned by a hospital or integrated medical system-reported a slight decrease in total RVUs per patient (0.55%) and a 17.85% decrease in work RVUs per patient.

Operating costs per full-time equivalent (FTE) physician increased by 2% since last year, and total medical revenue after operating cost per FTE physician decreased slightly (0.16%) since last year, according to the report.

Between 1999 and 2009, median total operating cost as a percentage of total medical revenue increased by 3.2 percentage points for independent groups, and increased by 1% for nonindependent groups, according to the report.